Paper-feeding rack



' May 27,1930. s, SCOTT, ;R 1,760,177

PAPER FEEDING RACK Filed May is, 1928 2 Sheen-Sheet i F g- ,4? a

May 27, 1930; 's. SCOTT. JR 1,760,177

' PAPER FEEDINGRACK Filed May 16, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1m /f\.- k

air I Patented May 27, 1930 UNITED STATES STEWART SCOTT, JR., OF FERGUSON, MISSOURI PAPER-FEEDING- RACK Application filed May 16,

This invention relates to improvements in paper feeding racks, and consists in the novel construction hereinafter disclosed.

Heretofore, in cutting sheet paper in stacks,

the material has been alined on a machine for that purpose and then transported to the table of the cutting machine by truck and loaded from the racks by hand to the cutting table of the cutter. The handling of the paper in this'manner tends to cause the sheets to become unalined on the edges so that it is difficult to feed the paper stacks in the cutting machine.

An object of the present invention is to pro-' vide an apparatus whereby the paper in stacks is fed forwardly to the table of the cut ting machine mechanically and in such a manner that the steel frames or racks upon which the paper is alined are held in position on the feeding rack and the paper stack moved forwardly uniformly, thereby preventing the edges of the sheets composing the stack from becomin unalined.

Additlonal ob ects of the construction will 2 be apparent from the following description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a front view.

Fig. 4 is aside elevation of the paper stack supported on the frame.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the frame structure.

Fig. 6 is a cross section showing the formation of the frame bar and taken substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

In the embodiment of the invention illus trated in the drawings the feeding rack is 4 shown as including a rectangular frame having a base member 1, upright supports 2 and top members 3 and 4. The frame is pref-Vv erably mounted on rollers 5 so that it may be readily moved from the point of loading to alinement with the forward edge of the feeding table of the cutting machine.

It will be noted from the drawings that the members 3 and 4 form an open frame, with the members 4 in a plane above the members 3. At each end of the members 3 are block.

1928. Serial No. 278,177.

brackets 6 upon which are supported rear shaft bearings 7 and front shaft bearings 8. Transversely of the rear end of the rack a shaft 9, upon which are mounted a plurality of pulleys 10 in transverse spaced relation ship, is journalled in said bearings 7. Transversely of the front end of the rack a shaft 11 is journaled in the bearings 8 and a plurality of pulleys 12 are mounted on said shaft 11 in transverse spaced relationship and opposite the pulleys 10. Continuous belts 13 are mounted over the pulleys 10 and 12, the upper face of said belts extending in a plane above the upper face of the members 4.

The shaft 11 is provided with a power pulley 14 which is driven from any suitable source of power, either by a belt connection 15 or by direct drive. By driving the shaft'll it is obvious that the belts 18 will move forwardly uniformly from the rear to the front end of the rack. Y

The stack of sheet paper 16 is alined on metal frames rectangular in form and comprising transverse end members 17 and spaced longitudinal members 18. The members 18 are connected to the members 17 and are spaced so that said members 18 lie in the in-, terval between the belts 13 and along the outer ed 'e of the outer belts.

The fiame is preferably constructed as shown in the drawings, namely, by forming it from the end members 17 in the form of angle bars with the longitudinal members 18 in the form of channel bars, said members 18 being respectively attached to the under faces of the top walls of the members 17 and removably secured thereto by screws 19, as illustrated in detail in Fig. 6. This provides a readily portable frame for the paper stack, the ends of the stack resting within the'members 17 and supported by the upper faces of the members 18. t

The members 4 support blocks 20 that form rests for the frame when the frame for supporting the stack of paper is placed on said The top faces of the blocks 20 lie slightly below the upper plane of the belts 13 so that the paper stack, while supported by the frame, may belifted in place over the belts and the frame will move below the plane 1 dling paper where the sheets are first printed of the belts and rest on the supporting blocks 20. This brings the belt faces in contact with the lower sheet of the stack so that, when the shaft 11 is operated, the entire stack will be moved forwardly from the frame and onto the cutting table of the cutter.

While the apparatus has been described as particularly applicable for the handling of paper stacks for feeding the same to the table of a cutting machine, the same construction obviously can be used forhandlingpaper' for any general purpose where it is desired to remove the stack of paper intact and in alinement onto a flat surface. V

The construction of the present invention has very greatly facilitatedthe handling of large stacks of paper which'are ordinarily handled in reams having considerable bulk and great weight. By the useof the rack the handling time has been very greatly reduced and furthermore the conditionof the stack is maintained in perfect al1nement. The weight of the stack is sufficient to cause'a frictional contact with the belts and to maintain the surface contact between the separate sheets. It is useful for handllngall classes of paper and is particularly useful in hanand then alined and are required to be cut accurately for labels andthelike; It has been found to be specially useful in handling calendered or glazed paper, the sheets of which,

when manually handled, tend readily to get,

out of alinement. By the use of themachine with greatly reduced labor very heavy stacks may be handled, as it is essential to engage the stack by the hands of the operator until the same is fully'positioned on the cutting table or other horizontal support, as the stack may be placed upon the feeding rack by handling the supporting frame andthe belts ad Vance the: stack intact and in alinement to the horizontal surfaces. It can be readily handled by the operator in the usual, manner.

I am aware that the invention may be modified in various particularswithout departure from the nature and principle thereof. I do,

not restrict myself unessentially, but what I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An apparatus of the class described comprising a main frame, and a plurality of spaced belts supported in theitop of said frame, in combination with a portable supporting frame for a stack of paper comprissaid frame, in combination with a portable unattached supporting frame for a stack of said belts in unison whereby said stack of paper is moved forwardly in alinement.

3. A paper feeding raclrcomprising a main frame, shafts supported at each end of said frame in parallel alinement, a plurality of spaced pulleys carried by said shafts, said pulleys being alined in longitudinal pairs, endless belts extending over said pulleys, means for driving one of said shafts, and a portable frame separable from said main frame and mountable thereon for positioning a. stack of paper on the upper sides of said belts. j i

4;. A paper feeding rack, comprising a main frame, shafts supported at each end of said frame in parallel alinement, a plurality of spaced. pulleys carried bysaid shafts, said pulleys being alined in longitudinal pairs, endless belts extending oversaid pulleys, means for driving one of said shafts,

and means for positioning a stack of paper on the upper surface of said belts comprising an open portable frame having end members and longitudinally extending spaced intermediatemembers, said intermediate members being adapted to seat on the main frame below the upper face of the belts whereby the belts frictionally engage the under face of the stacln '5.. In an apparatus. of the class described, the combination with a main frame, of aplurality of friction belts arranged transver'sely of the frame, means for driving said'beltsforwardly in unison, and means. for positioning a stack of paper on said belts comprising an. open portable frame adapted to be positioned on the main frame with the mem-- bers of the frame outv of contact with the belts whereby the stack is engaged and moved forwardly by the belts, and means for supporting frame on the main frame below the surface of the belts.

6, In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a main frame, and wheels on said main frame, of a plurality of friction belts arranged transversely of theframe, means for driving said belts forwardly in unison, and means separable from said mam frame and mountable thereon for positioning a stack of paper on said beltscomprising an open frame adapted to be positioned on the main frame with the mem-' bers of the frame out of contact with the belts w-herebythe stack is engaged moved forwardly by the belts and the supporting frame on the main frame.

7. An apparatus of the character described compri'sing'a main frame, and a plurality of spaced belts operatively supported in the top of the frame, in combination with a portable supporting frame separable from said main frame and mountable on said main frame for depositing on said belts a stack of paper, and means in said main frame for supporting said portable frame below the stack of paper deposited on said belts by said portable frame.

8. In an apparatus of the character described the combination With a main frame, parallel rotary shafts supported by said frame, pulleys mounted on said shafts for V rotation thereby, endless friction belts mounted on and operated by said pulleys and a portable frame for carrying a stack 0 paper and being mountable on said main frame below the upper sides of said belts and having openings for receiving said belts to permit the deposit on said belts of the paper on said portable frame.

STEWART SCOTT, J R. 

